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A step-by-step guide for residents to check the validity of their visas.
On Tuesday, August 3, the UAE’s National Crisis and Emergency Management Agency and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that residents in the UAE who have received two doses of the approved Covid-19 vaccine can return home from August 5.
Currently, only UAE residency visa holders who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the UAE are allowed to return home.
In addition, vaccinated and unvaccinated health workers, teachers, humanitarian cases, and personnel working in federal and local government agencies can fly to the UAE from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda.
Inbound travelers must be approved by the Federal Identity and Citizenship Administration (ICA) and the General Directorate of Residence and Aliens Affairs (GDRFA). However, during the mandatory stay in these countries, many residents’ visas either expired or stayed abroad for more than six months.
Here is a guide on how they can check the status of their visa before traveling:
How can I check if my visa is valid for entry?
Residents of Dubai can use their passport and UAE ID number to check their visa status here:
https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/residents-entry-confirmation
Visa holders from all Emirates except Dubai can check their visa status here:
https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity
Residents can use their passport or UAE ID number to check their visa status.
What should I do if I stay outside the UAE for more than six months?
The general rule is that if a foreign resident, that is, a person holding a UAE residence visa, has lived outside the UAE continuously for more than six months, his residence visa will be automatically invalidated. If this happens, they will have to apply for a new entry permit to enter the UAE again.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) stated on its website that applications may be rejected for reasons related to preventive measures. However, this procedure does not mean that the applicant will not be allowed to enter the country.
Re-entry application for Dubai residents: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitServiceForm.aspx
All other Emirates re-entry applications:
https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/residents-entry-confirmation
After applying for a re-entry permit, what is the next step?
Employees who have stayed outside the UAE for more than six months may need to provide a letter of certification from their employer or guarantor stating that they are employees of the company. This letter can be provided to the immigration officer at the airport.
Can I apply for an entry permit abroad?
Yes. Entry permit is a document issued by ICA or GDRFA that allows foreigners to legally enter and stay in the UAE for a period of time. The file can be in physical or electronic form. Before applying, please check if you need an entry permit, otherwise you may get it on arrival.
The guarantor of the entry personnel will handle entry permit transactions through GDRFA’s online and offline channels. Sponsors can be private sector companies, public entities, relatives, Emirates airlines or hotels, etc.
Depending on your reason for entering the UAE, there are many types of entry permits. Some of them are employment, family visits, travel/transit, treatment, missions, participation in conferences.
The entry permit has a validity period, that is, the period during which the entry permit must be used when entering the UAE through one of its land border, airport or seaport entry points. For most entry permits, the validity period is two months. The validity period of the entry permit cannot be extended, and it will automatically become invalid after the expiration of the period.
What if my visa expires?
Currently, the UAE authorities have no regulations to allow people with expired visas to re-enter the UAE, even if they are within a 30-day grace period after their visa expires. Their sponsor (employer/spouse/parent) must cancel their existing visa and apply for a new entry permit.
Can I apply for visa extension from overseas?
There is currently no provision to apply for visa extension when residents are overseas. However, travel agencies and diplomatic missions hope that the UAE authorities can review this and provide guidance after the restrictions are completely lifted.
Can I enter the UAE on a tourist visa?
For example, tourist visa holders from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh cannot enter the UAE directly from these countries. Instead, they can be isolated in a third country for at least 14 days before entering the UAE.
Raheesh Babu, Chief Operating Officer of Musafir.com Group, said, for example, if you live in a green county like Qatar and are quarantined there for 14 days, you can enter the UAE on a tourist visa. Some passengers chose to travel this way and arrived in the UAE in time before their visas expired.
Source: ICA, GDRFA, travel agency
Danusha Gukulan
Dhanusha Gokulan is from India and has been working as a journalist for more than ten years. For Khaleej Times, she reports on NRI affairs, civil aviation and immigration issues. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism, economics and English literature from Mangalore University in 2008, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in contemporary media leadership and innovation at the American University in Dubai. In her spare time, she gets involved in singing/song writing, loves food, and is the mother of an over-enthusiastic Labrador Retriever. On her Twitter @shootsprintrite.
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